Boston Bruins take down Islanders, extend point streak to 9 games

Updated January 3, 2018 at 1:02 AM;Posted January 2, 2018 at 10:34 PM

Boston Bruins center Tim Schaller, second from left, celebrates with teammates Noel Acciari (55), Sean Kuraly (52) and Matt Grzelcyk (48), as New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) gets up during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, in New York. The Bruins won 5-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)(Frank Franklin II)

Once tabbed as fringe postseason players due to a slow start generated by injuries and questions in net, the Bruins have righted the ship in a major way over the last month -- entering Tuesday's matchup against the Islanders with an eight-game point streak (6-0-2).

Thanks to another strong performance by NHL First Star of the Month Tuukka Rask and a balanced scoring output, the Bruins continued their winning ways at Barclays Center -- toppling the Islanders by a score of 5-1.

With the victory, the Bruins extend their point streak to a season-long nine games -- the team's longest point streak since Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 15, 2015.

The Bruins (22-10-6) have not trailed in any games over their last eight matchups, while also boasting a record of 16-3-2 in their last 21 games. Boston now sits in a comfortable spot in second place in the Atlantic Division, creating a two-point cushion over the Toronto Maple Leafs with three games in hand.

Rask stopped 25 shots in Tuesday's win, improving his record to 10-0-1 since Nov. 29. Danton Heinen, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari all lit the lamp for the Black and Gold in the victory.

Boston opened the scoring at 8:17 in the first period, with third-line center Riley Nash winning a faceoff and feeding the puck to a lurking Heinen right outside of the slot. The rookie did not hesitate, one-timing the puck past New York goalie Jaroslav Halak for his 10th goal of the season.

The lead did not last for long, as a defensive miscue by Brandon Carlo allowed Jordan Eberle to bring the puck right to the Bruins' doorstep following a faceoff win -- with Eberle beating Rask just 1:13 after Heinen's score to make it a 1-1 game.

During a second period in which Boston outshot the Islanders, 17-8, Bergeron secured the lone goal of the stanza -- along with the game-winning tally. After a shot from Marchand bounced high above the Islanders' net, Bergeron corralled the biscuit and banked it home off Halak's right skate to put Boston ahead.

Boston put the game away in the third off of three unanswered goals -- starting with Marchand beating Halak on a 2-on-1 with David Pastrnak at 9:04.

A strong performance from Boston's fourth line of Schaller, Acciari and Sean Kuraly was finally rewarded later in the frame -- with Schaller potting a rebound following a forced turnover by Kuraly at 15:02, while Acciari secured the empty netter at 17:47.

The Bruins will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday, as they will host the Florida Panthers for a 7 p.m. matchup at TD Garden.